Which of the following refers to how a word or phrase arouses feelings of anger, love, fear, and guilt among listeners?

The concept that refers to how a word or phrase arouses emotions such as anger, love, fear, and guilt among listeners is known as connotative meaning. This term describes the additional meanings that words carry beyond their literal definitions (denotative meaning) and encompasses the emotional and cultural associations or implications that can influence how a message is perceived.

When speakers choose specific words or phrases, they often aim to evoke a particular emotional response, making connotative meaning significant in public speaking. For instance, the word "home" might evoke feelings of comfort and safety (positive connotation), while "prison" might summon feelings of fear or anxiety (negative connotation). This illustrates how language can impact an audience's emotional experience during a speech, highlighting the importance of understanding connotation for effective communication.

In contrast, emotional appeal refers to a persuasive technique that attempts to elicit specific emotions from the audience, rather than focusing on the inherent emotional associations of the words themselves. Figurative language involves the use of metaphors or similes to create vivid imagery or express ideas uniquely but does not primarily concern emotional arousal. Denotative meaning, on the other hand, deals with the literal meaning of words, which lacks the emotional charge that